Excavating machine



A ril 29. 1924. 1,492,060

1'. AULMANN EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed um. 19. 1920 e Sheets-Sheet 1 April29, 1924. 1,492,060

T. AULMANN v EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19. 1920 S SheetS-Sheet 2April 29 19 v 1,492,060 T. AULMANN EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19[1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 29, 1924. 1,492,060

' T. AULMANN I EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Nov. 19, 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 4April 29, 1924. 1,492,060

' T. AULMANN EXCAVATING MACHINE:

@1156 Nov. 19. 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor April 29, 1924. 1,492,060

T. AULMANN EXCAVATING MACHTNEJ Filegl Nov. 19 1920 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Ar. 29, 1924.

rngononn AULMANN, or nus Monvns, Iowa.

nxonvnrme MACHINE.

Application filed November 19, 1920. Serial No. 425,226.

ously and automatically excavating and delivering material such as shaleand similar semi-hard substances, to a hopper or con- 7 tainer.

A further object is to provide an excava' tor capable of removingmaterial from a bank of shale of considerable depth and composed of aseries of. different strata, and while so excavating to continuously anduniformly mix the material of the different strata together and deliverthem to a hopper or receiver in small chunks or particles.

A further object is to provide an exca vator capable of excavatingmaterial from a bank of shale of considerable depth, and

to leave the excavated surface of the bank.

in such shape that it will not easily slide off due to the action offrost or other conditions of the weather.

A further object is to provide in an excavator having an excavatormember of heavy and rigid construction, and capable of being moved in asemi-circular path of a comparatively large radius, new and improvedmeans for supporting, operating and advancing the said excavator member.

A further ob ect 18 to provide in connection with an excavator memberadapted to remove material fro-m a bank by cutting and drawing it towardthe floor, and adapted to swing in a horizontal plane, new and improvedmeans for gathering and elevating the material to a fixed predeterminedpoint.

These and other objects which need not.

be mentioned in detail, will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1. shows a side elevation of my improved excavating machine,showing the manner in which it is mounted relative to a bank of shalewhen in action, the bank of shale being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the base portion of the excavating. fraane.

Figure 3 is a central, vertical, sectional view, taken through theinclined elevating chute and the base portion of the machine, showingthe manner in which the material is delivered to the hopper, and alsoshowing portions of the operating mechanism.

Figure platform.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 3, showing indetail the mechanism for driving the elevating conveyor.

Figure 7 is a detail view showing the mechanism for controlling thegathering members, and also a portion of the elevating chute, insection.

Figure 8 is a detail end elevation of the sprocket mechanism for thelower end of the elevating conveyor, showing a portion of the sprocketsin section.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure ,10 is a detail semi-sectional view of the sprocket at the upperend of the elevating and excavating conveyor.

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the same.

Figure 12 is a detail end elevation of the clutch mechanism for grippingthe rails, the rails being shown in section.

gigure 13 is a side elevation of the same; an

Figure 14 is a sectional view, taken on the line 14*14r. of Figure 3.

My improved excavator comprises a series of supporting rails, a movableplatform and an excavating frame, the frame being designed to swing in asubstantially semi-circular path upon the platform and to carry aflexible and continuously moving excavator member which is capable ofelevating 4 is a plan view of the supporting V the material to a hopperprovided for that 1 purpose.

A platform 10 is built of a series of transversely arranged and parallelbeams 11. These beams are rigidly and securely held in position relativeto each other by means of longitudinally arranged and parallel beams 12,the said transverse and longitudinal beams being secured in positionrelative to each other by means of gusset plates 13.

This construction is one commonly adopted by structural engineers.

The beams 11 and 12 are of such a length that a circular contour isprovided at their ends, the ends bein connected by means of a circularbeam 14 eld in position by proper gusset plates as shown. The beam 14 isprovided with a circular track 15, which is detachably secured to thebeam 14 by means of counter-sunk bolts or rivets 16.

The platform is provided near its central portion with a plate 17 havingan opening. '18, which is for the purpose of receiv ng mechanismhereinafter to be described.

The back portion of the platform is constructed of short members 19 andangular members 20, so that a notched portion 21 is formed in theplatform. This notched portionis for the purpose of receiving mine cars,as willbe hereinafter more fully set forth. The platform is designed-tobe'of a I considerable diameter, approximately thirty-two feet, and asit is designed to carry a'very heavy concentrated load, it necessary toprovide a series of supports, which I have provided by arranging thebeams 12 i n setsof two, spaced a slight distance apart,

and placing a series of double flanged wheels 22 between them. Each ofthese rows .of wheels is designed to rest on a rail 23. The rails 23 areformed in short sections and reston suitable ties 24.

By this arrangement it will be seen'that I have provided a platform ofvery rigid construction, whichmay be easily moved lon gitudinally andwhich may be capable of carrying a heavy concentrated .load onthecircular track 15.

The excavator framecomprises a seriesof parallel beams 25 and 26, and aseries of track 15, so that the rollers 32 may travel frame from beingmoved upwardly relative" to the platform.

Near the forward end of the members 25 I have provided parallel members27, de-

signed to receiverollers 32 having their axes radial of the pivot centerof the said frame, the rollers 32 bemg positioned at a distance from thecenter equal to the radius of the on the track 15. The shaft of eachroller 32'is provided with a bevel gear 33 which is designedto mesh withabevel gear 34 mounted on the outer end of a transversely arranged shaft35, the said shaft terminating near the longitudinal center of the frameand being provided with abevel gear 36.

. detail.

Each of the bevel gears 36 is designed to mesh with a plnion 37 mountedon the forward end of a longitudinally arranged shaft 38. The shaft 38is secured in position by means of bearings 39 mounted on crossmembers40, the members 40 being secured to the frame members 25. Theback end of the shaft 38'is provided with a pinion 41 designed to meshwith a gear 42, the said gear being operatively connected with a shaft43 on a speed reducing gear device 44. This speed reducing mechanism isoperatively connected with a reversible motor 45 by meansof a coupling46. 7

The speed reducing mechanism 44 is of the common construction which ispatented and sold on the'market as a unit. The details of thisconstruction are well known to those 'versed in the art, and forthat'reason it is deemed unnecessary to describe them in B this arranement of driving mechanism it will be seen that as the motor. 45 isoperated the gears 41 and 42 will be rotated through the speed reducer44, and the bevel gears 46. in turn will be rotated from the pinion 37,causing the shafts 36 to be rotated in. opposite directions. of the gear34 will in turn cause thebevel gears 33 to be rotated in the samedirection, and the-wheels 32 rotated. This will cause the excavatorframe member'to be swung ina circular path about the pivot point. Areverse movementof the excavator frame is accomplished by reversing themotor 45. i

.The members .25 are provided. with atowei 47, which is built of steelstructure and rigidly braced. The .forwardends of the members 25 areprovided with, vertical members 48, slightly inclined forwardly and heldin. position relative to the tower 47 by means of horizontal braces 49,the upper ends of the members 48'being rigidly held in posi tion bymeansof horizontal members 50 connected to the top of the tower 47. The upperends of the members 48 are provided with bearings 51, designed to carrya shaft 52. .The shaft .52 in turn is designed to carry a sleeve 53which is provided at each end with. a bearing member 54 and a flange 55.Each of the flanges 55 has secured to it The rotation a sprocket 56 bymeans of bolts'57. The

shaft 52 is 'rigidly held in the bearings 51 by meansof bolts 58, topreventit from turning.

The forward end of the frames 25 are provided with bearings. 58*,designed to receive a shaft 59, and secured in position by means ofbolts 60. The shaft 59'is provided with disc members 61, rotatablymounted on said shaft, and havinghubs 62. Each. of the discs 61 isprovided with an annular flange 63 designed toreeeive a sprocket 64.These sprockets are spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing of thesprockets 56.

The sprockets 64 are secured in position relative to each other by meansof a sleeve 65 which has an opening 66 through which oil or grease maybe placed in the sleeve 65 for the purposeof lubricating the bearingsformed by the hubs 62. By this construction it will be seen that themember 65 may be packed with hard oil and a plug placed in the opening66 so that a dirt-tight container may be provided for the grease.

Each disc 61 is provided with an annular lug 67, designed to receive atooth 68 which is detachably secured in position by means of bolts 69.The-purpose of these teeth will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

Adjacent to each end of the disc 61 I'have pivotally mounted a gatheringgate 70, which is formed circular and provided with ribs 71. These gatesare designed to be raised and lowered for the purpose of gathering thematerial, as will hereinafter be described.

Secured to the tower 47, at a point considerably above the members 25,I'have provided horizontally arranged beams 72, the forward ends ofwhich are provided with a shaft 73 mounted in slidable bearing mem-;bers 74. These bearing members are adjustably held in position by meansof set screws 75. 'The shaft 73 is provided with sprockets 76, which arespaced aparta distance equal to the spacing of the sprockets 56 and thesprockets 64.

Secured to the back endsof the members W 72 I have provided a shaft 77,secured in position by means of bearings 78. The shaft 77 is providedwith hub members 79, each of which is designed to receive a sprocket 80,the hubs 79 being loosely mounted on the shaft and each provided with agear 81.

The sprockets 80 are spaced and held apart by means of a bar 82. Thisbar, however, is so mounted that a certain amount of rotary movement maybe imparted between the two sprockets relative to each other. Secured tothe members 72 is a second shaft 83, held in position by means ofbearings 84. The shaft 83 is provided with pinions 85 in mesh with eachof the gears 81 and secured in position by means of key. One end of theshaft 83 is provided with a large belt wheel 86, while the other end isprovided with a small belt'wheel 87.

' The sprockets 56, 64, 76 and '80 are designed to receive a conveyor88. This conveyor 88 comprises chains 89 having transversely arrangedshafts 90. The shafts 90 are arranged in groups of two, and areconnected withthe solid portion of the links that are designed to carrya tool holding member 91 secured in position to oneof the shafts 90 bymeans of U-bolts 92. The member 91 is provided at its rear end with anotch 93, which receives the back one of each set of shafts 90. Themember 91. is

designed to receive a cutting tool 94. These tools are inclined slightlyforwardly, and are held in position by means of suitable lockingmechanism. The chains 89 are also provided with transverse plates 95,which are so placed that they form elevating means veyor is moveddownwardly, the cutters 94 maybe made to engage material and cut itloose, permitting it to fall to thefloor line of the pit. The members 25are provided with a platform 97, upon which is mounted a motor 98provided with a belt wheel 99. The motor 98 is so mounted that the beltwheel 99 is in line with the belt wheel 86, the wheels 99 and 86 beingdesigned to receive a belt 100.

Thus it will be seen that as the motor 98 is operated the wheel 86 willbe rotated in a clockwise direction, causing the gears 81 to be rotatedin an anti-clockwise direction by means of the pinions 85, and thesprockets 80 rotated through the hubs 79. This in turn will cause theexcavator conveyor 88 to be driven.

In devices of this kind, where two sets of gears areemployed to drive asingle shaft. or mechanism, considerable difficulty has been experiencedin aligning the pinions with the gears so that they will absolutelymesh, if both sets of pinions and gears are rigidly connected to theshafts- For that reason I have provided the construction shown in Figure6 of the drawings, where the sprockets 80 are connected directly withthe gears 81, the gears 81 being loosely mounted on the shaft. By thisarrangement it will be seen that one of the sprockets 80 may be movedslightly relative to the other one to adjust the variation between thetwo sets of gears. This slight movement will not be noticeable to theworking of the convcyor.

For elevating the material that has been excavated, I have provided aninclined trough 101'. This trough has its lower end secured adjacent tothe sprocket wheels 64, and its upper end terminating at a point beneaththe sprockets 80. The conveyor is provided. with transverse plates whichact as bucket members for sliding the material within thebottoin of thetrough 101. The said trough 101 is so located that its bottom, restsadjacent to the bottom edges of the plates 95, as they move upwardly.The central portion of the trough 101 is provided with a grooved portion102 for the clockwise direction,,which will cause the sprockets SO to berotated in an anti-clockwise direction through the gearing mechanismjust described. 'Thiswill cause the conveyor 88 to be moved beneath thesprockets 76, over the sprockets .56 and beneath the sprockets '61. Thusthe said 0011- veyor 88 will move downwardly between the members 96,said members holding the conveyor against lateral movement relative tosaid members; I

It "willrthus be seen that the cutters 91 may be made to engage the faceof a bank of shale or similar material, and that when soengaged theywill cut the material loose, and this material will then fall upon thefloor at a point near the bottom ends of the members 418. The plates 95will then engage the. material and move it upwardly through the trough101. Y

After theconveyor 88' has beenstarted,

, the motor is set in operation, which "will cause the free end ofthe-members and the members 18to be moved in a circular path, as beforedescribech'and cause the cuttingmembers 91 to be moved in a circularpath about the pivotmember 29.

To assist in gathering the material and conveying it into the trough101, I have provided ateach side of thesprockets'tie the plates70. Theedges of the plates 70 are formed circular, the circular edge beingof aradius substantially equal to the radius of the points of the cutters asthe said cutters pass over the sprockets 61. These plates 70 arepivotally mounted on the shaft 59 so that one of the plates may restinthe' position shown in Figure 1, while the other plate may be elevatedin such a manner that the excavated material will pass beneath the plateas the frame 25 is oscillated. -When the frame 25 is moved to the right,the lefthand plate 70 is lowered, which will gather the loose materialwhich is'not gathered by the plates 95.

For raising and lowering the plates 70 I i I have provided a shaft 104rotatably' mounted in bearings 105 secured to the lower side of thetrough 101, as clearly illustrated in Figure 7. Each end of the shaft104 is'provided with a drum 106, and is-secured thereto. One end of theshaft 104.- is provided with a hand wheel 107, having a handle 108.Eachof the drums 106 is designed to receive a cable .109. These cables109 are drum will unwind its cable. This willcauseone of the members tobe elevated, and the other lowered. V 7 Then the, swinging movement ofthe members 25 is reversed, the position of the members 70 may, also bereversed.

To assist in gathering the material, and

also to assist inmakinga true circular floor portion for the members? 0,I have provided the auxiliary cutter members68. These cutter members,being secured to the sprockets 61, are rotated integraltherewith, andcut loose any projections or unevenness in the surface ,which may havebeen left by the cutters 94:, and also agitate the 'material gathered bythe plates 70,. which assists in causing it to move in front of theplates 95.

By the arrangement above described, it will-be "seen that a semicircularor conical face will be cut in the bank of "shale, as it is necessary inthe operation of the machine to move the members 18 in an anglesubstantially equal to 180 degrees, after which the operation may bereversed. vWhen the frame member 48 has reached its limitof movement ineither direction, it may be distance and are designed to receive a shaft112 which is arranged longitudinally with the members 25. and rotatablymounted in' suitable bearings. The forwardend of the shaft112 isprovided with a. miter gear 118, which is in. mesh with a second mitergear 114 mounted on the inner end of a transversely arranged shaft- 115which is mount ed in suitable bearings securedto the frame member 27.The outer end of the shaft 115 is provided with a pulley 116, having aclutch member designed to coact with a second clutch member. 117 whichis slidab-ly mounted on the shaft 115. The member 117 is controlled bymeans of a. bell crank lever 118, which is in turn controlled-by a lever119 and a connecting rod 120. The'lever 119 is mounted on a platform 121secured at the forward end oft he machine andina position where theoperation of the cutters 94 may be easily observed by the operator. Thepulley 116 is loosely mountedion" the shaft 115 and is designed toreceive a belt 122 which is mounted on the pulley 87 of the shaft 83.A'pinion gear 123 is secured to the shaft 112 and is in mesh with agear.

124 mounted on a shaft 125 parallel with the shaft 112 and beneath it.The shaft 125 is designed to carry two loosely mounted bevel pinions126, each of which is constantly in mesh with a bevel gear 127. Each ofthe pinions 126 is designed to coact with a slidable clutch member 128.This clutch member 128 is designed to be operated by a pivoted lever 129which is in turn operated by means of a hand lever 130 and a rod 131,the lever 130 being secured to the platform 121 adjacent to the lever119. The bevel. gear 127 is mounted on a vertical shaft 132, the lowerend of which is provided with a bevel pinion 133 designed to mesh withthe bevel pinion 134. The bevel pinion 134 is mounted on one end of ashaft 135, which is rotatably mounted in a thrust bearing 136 andprovided at its opposite end with a universal joint 137. The member 137is mounted on one end of a screw-threaded shaft 138 which extendslongitudinally between the'central members 12 of the movable platform.This screw-threaded shaft 138 is designed to coact with a block 139pivotally mounted in members 140, as shown in Figures12 and 13. Themembers 140 are secured to a plate 141 which rests on the top of one ofthe rail members 23. 13.11. gular plates 142 are provided, the innerends of which engage the under side of the ball of the rail and theupper ends of which are in engagement with the lower edges of theplate'141. Set screws 143 secure the said angular plates in position,and also secure the members 140 adjacent to the member 141. When the setscrews are tightened, the members 140 are held rigidly in positionrelative to the rail 23.

When it is desired to advance the cutters 94 into the material to beexcavated, the operator will actuate the lever 119 which, through therod 120, will cause the bell crank 118 to be oscillated, causing themember 11? to frictionally engage the clutch within the pulley 116. Thispulley 116 is constantly rotated throu h the belt 122 from the pulley 87and through. the mechanism before described. This will cause theshaft115 to be rotated, together with the miter gears 113 and 114, which willin turn rotate the shaft 112, the pinion 123 and the gear 124, which inturn will rotate the shaft 125. The

clutch member 128, which is slidably keyed 131. When the clutch 138 hasengaged one of the pinions 126, the pinions 133 and 134 wvill berotated, which will cause the shaft 138 to be rotated in the block 139.This will cause the shaft 138 to have a longitudinal movement, due tothe screw threads thereon. This longitudinal movement will cause the bar126 to be moved longitudinally, and the latform advanced relativeto therails 23. he members 125 are mounted on said platform, and consequentlywill bemoved therewith, which in turn will movethe member 48, togetherwith the cutters 94.

After the shaft 138 has moved longitudi-- nally through the block 139 tothe full ex: tent'of its movement, the set screws 143 may be loosenedand the members 140 advanced relative to the rail. This movement may beaccomplished by throwing the clutch member 128 in a reverse direction,to that in which it is actuated for advancing the platform. This willcause the clutch 128 to engage the oppositely. rotating pinion and theshaft 138 to be rotated in the opposite direction, and the members 143moved relative to the rail 23-until they have reached the outerlend ofthe shaft 138. The set, screwsv 143' will then be tightened, after whichthe platform may be again advanced as before described.

To enable the operator to easily and quickly ascertainrhow muchmovement, the

platform has made relative to the rails, and also when the shaft 138 hasreached its limit of movement, I have provided a graduated scale member144, which is arranged vertically and mounted on one of the uprightmembers of the main frame. I have provided adjacent to the plate 144,bearings 145, which are designed to carry a vertically screw-threadedshaft 146. This shaft is provided with a screw-threaded and coactingrunner 147, provided with a pointer 148 designed to move adjacent to thescale of the member 144. The lower end of the shaft 146 is provided witha bevel gear 149, which is in turn in mesh with a bevel gear 150 shownin Figure 1 of the drawings, and mounted on a horizontally arrangedshaft 151. The shaft 151 is mounted in suitable hearings on one of themembers 25, and is provided at its rear end with a universal joint 152,which in turn is connected to a diagonally arranged shaft 153, the rearendof which is provided with a universal joint 154. This joint. 154 ismounted on the forward end of the shaft 112.

Thus it will be seen that as the shaft 112 is rotated to advance theplatform, the shaft 146 will also be rotated and the runner 147 beelevated or lowered. WVhen the clutch members 140 are advanced relativeto the rail 23, the pointer 148 will be moved to its normal position. Bythis arrangement it will be seen that the operator may quickly,

easily and accurately ascertain when the cutters 94 have been moved tothe right depth.

For receiving the material after it has been elevated, I have provided ahopper 154, which'is in the form of an inclined tube having its upperend provided with vertical side members 155 and its lower end providedwith a gate 156. The upper end of the hopper is located substantiallyabove the pivotal center of the frame members 25 by means of vuprightsupports 157, the lower ends of which are mounted on a pivoted platform158 secured to the top sides of the members 111.; The pivot center ofsaid plat form is vertically over the pivot center of the frame members25,"the frame members 25' being designed to rotate under the members 158and the hopper 154:, which issupported and held in a stationary positionby means of upright members 159. These. members 159 are secured tothe'members- 19 and 20 of the platform, and are spaced apart in suchamanner that a car may be moved in under the lower end of'the hopper 154and into the notch 21 of the platform to receive material from the saidhopper, By'this arrangement it will be seen that the car may be movedinto position under said hopper while the conveyor is in any of itspositions of circular movement, or the conveyor may move continuouslywhilethe car is in'position to receive material, without interferingwith the filling of the said car. The gate 156 is designed to beactuated by means of a continuous rope 160, which is mounted on a sheave161, which in turn is mounted on the end of a transverse shaft 162mounted in suitable hearings on the upper side of the hopper 154:. Theshaft 162 is provided' with pinions 163 designed to mesh with gears 164,which are in turn secured to the sidemembers of the gate 156. Thus itwill be seen that as the rope 160 is operated, the shaft 162 will berotated, which in turn will cause the gate 156 to be elevated for thepurpose of emptying the material within the hopper.

movement in such a manner that the mate 7 rial from a bank of shalehaving a series of stratavor different formations maybe removed incomparatively small chunks and particles, and when so removed they willbe uniformly mixed together as they descend to the floor of the pit. vture will then be elevated to a hopper, which 'may be easily and quicklyemptied into a This uniform mixreceiving car. 7

A further advantage of this construction lies in the fact-that thecutters move downwardly to accomplish their'p'urposefl This downwardmovement of the cutters will consequently produce a tendency toward anelevating movement of the supporting members of the conveyor, which willhave a tendency to lighten the load on the forward end of the framemembers 25. By placing the members 48 in a position slightly clmed fromthe vertical, a semi-conical surface is left in the pit, which prevents,to a large extent, the possibility of portions of the surface workingloose and sliding oif.

trouble even after they are gathered up and sent to the mill. Y

Another advantage of my excavator lies in the fact that I have. provideda large and rigid platform upon which the excavator member may be movedin a circular path. This platform'is supported by a series of'parallelrails placed on suitable ties sothat the machine may besuccessfully operated even if the floor or bed of thepit is quite soft.The platform is of sufficient stiffness so that when the supportingrails are :properly laidvthe circular track thereon will be providedwith'a straight upper face. This is quite an advantage in machines ofthis class, having excavator members movingm a conical plane with analtitude of approximately forty feet. It will be seen that a very slightvariation in the track face would produce a considerable movement on theupper ends of the supporting members 48. This would cause the cutters toengage the material to a much greater depth at some places than atothers, and a very uneven cut would be produced as the excavator movedin its circular path. ,7

Another advantage of my improved machine lies in the fact that theexcavator or movable member may be easily and quickly replaced by a newone when worn out.

I claim as my invention: 7 e

1. In a device of the class described, a platform,a movable frame onsaid platform, an excavator memberon said frame, ca-

pable of moving downwardly to the floor line to loosen the material tobe excavated, then upwardly to deliver it to a hopper, means for movingsaid excavator member transversely in either direction, pivotedgathering means for each side of said excavator member, adjacent to thefloor, and

This working loose and sliding ofl of por-,

means for alternately raising and lowering said gathering means. r

2. In a device of the class described, a platform formed of a series ofintersecting steel beams having its edge formed with a circular portion,and a straight portion, the straight portion being provided with aninwardly extending notch terminating near an annular track for the outerportion of said edge.

3. In a device of the class described, a platform, a movable frame onsaid platform, an excavator member for said frame comprising an upwardlyand outwardly extending portion, the lower end of which is substantiallythe floor line, and an upwardly and inwardly extending portion on thelower end of the first said portion, said portions being in alinementwith each other, a set of sprocket wheels for the adjacent ends of saidinclined portions, a set of sprocket wheels for the first said upwardlyand outwardly extending portion, a shaft arranged trans- V verselyacross the upper end of the inwardly and upwardly-extending frameportion, a set of sprocket wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, a gearrigidly secured to each of said sprocket wheels and also rotativelymounted on said shaft, a second shaft parallel with the first saidtransversely arranged shaft, a set of pinions rigidly secured I to saidsecond shaft, each of which is designed to be in operative relation tothe cor responding loosely mounted gears, a chain for each of theloosely mounted pinions designed to extend over corresponding sprocketsof said excavator member, said chains being provided with a series oftransversely arranged connecting members, a cutter located centrally ona number of said transversely arranged connecting members, and.

means for driving the said second transversely arranged shaft.

i. In a deviceof the class described, a platform, a movable frame onsaid P1atform, an excavator member for said frame comprising an upwardlyand outwardly extending portion, the lower end of which is substantiallythe floor line, and an upwardly and inwardly extending, portion on thelower end of the first said portion, said portions being in alinementwith each other,

a set of sprocket wheels for the adjacent ends of said inclinedportions, a set of sprocket wheels for the first said upwardly andoutwardly extending portions, a shaft arranged transversely across theupper end of the inwardly and upwardlyextending frame portion, a set ofsprocket wheels loosely mounted on said shaft, a gear rig-,

idly secured to each of said sprocket wheels and also rotatively mountedon said shaft, a second shaft parallel with the first said transverselyarranged shaft, a set of pinions rigidly secured to said second shaft,each of which is designed to be in operative relation to thecorresponding loosely mounted gears, a chain for each of the looselymounted pinions designed to extend over corresponding sprockets of saidexcavator member, said chains being provided with a series. oftransversely arranged connecting members, a cutter located centrally ona number of said transversely arranged connecting members, means fordriving the said second transversely arranged shaft, means for movingsaid excavator member transversely in either direction, pivotedgathering means for each side of the lower end of said excavator memberadjacent to the floor, and means for alternately raising and loweringsaid gathering means.

5. In a device of the class described, a platform. a supporting framepivoted to oscillate in either direction on said platform, an inclinedgathering trough carried by said supporting frame, the lower end of saidinclined trough being designed to engage the ground surface outside ofsaid platform, and the inner end to extend upwardly and inwardly. to apoint substantially above the pivoted center, a transversely arrangedshaft at the upper end of said gathering trough, a pair of sprocketwheels for said pivot, a transversely 311:-

lower end of said gathering trough about said platform in eitherdirection, a pivoted plate adjacent to each edge of said gatheringmember designed to be moved from an elevated to a lowered position, andmeans for elevating and lowering each of said plates.

'6. In a device of the class described, a platform, a supporting framepivoted on said platform, an excavating member designed to travel in aninclined path and designed to have one portion engage and gathermaterial at a point at the floor level of the platform, means for movingthe engaging portion of said excavator member in a transverse path withthe movementof the excavator member, a pivoted gathering 7 gatheringmember, a rotatively mounted shaft, a flexible lifting means for each ofi said plates having one end connected thereto and the opposite end ofsaid lifting member being wound on said shaft in opposite directions,and means for rotating said shaft in either direction.

rnriononn AULMANN.

